The Wildlife Experience’s president Giovanni Greco expressed his deep concern personally and from the organization on the importance of water conservation and education at the third annual Douglas County Water Summit.
The venue, The Wildlife Experience west of Parker, was a perfect location for Douglas County Commissioner Steve Boand to lead into his speech by referring to the financial chaos on Wall Street.
“Wildlife has been the definition for the financial market the last few days,” Boand said at the Oct. 1 event. “I am glad we are here instead.”
The water summit was a platform to celebrate the accomplishments Douglas County has reaped over the last year in water issues.
According to Boand, four major contributions should be highlighted:
Storage
South Metro Water Supply Authority accomplishments through regional water rights
Plans for water supply in the future
The new Rural Water Authority of Douglas County
Jack McCormick, Plum Valley Heights subdivision resident and water activist educated the audience on the history of The Rural Water Authority’s inception.
“In 2004 discussions by Southeast business partners, Douglas County, Arapahoe County, area water providers and other interested parties began to create what would be called a Douglas County Water Conservation District,” McCormick said. “It was during these discussions that it was recognized that the district boundaries should be expanded to include rural water association and people.”
Communities such as Louviers, Indian Creek and Sedalia will have member interest and membership.
The Rural Water Authority will give “a collective voice to those who could not, prior to the authority establishment, be meaningfully represented on the unique issues of rural water users,” Boand said.
The purpose of the Rural Water Authority is to assist in the development of water resources, systems, in whole or in part, for the benefit of rural water users. The Rural Water Authority will educate and inform water users as to issues affecting an adequate, sustainable and reliable water supply. The area the Rural Authority will serve is all of unincorporated Douglas County, excluding service areas of special districts.
Water storage for Douglas County made huge leaps and bounds over the last year.
“Two storage vessels have been created in Douglas County,” Boand said. “Centennial 6,500 acres on South Platte and Rueter-Hess Reservoir construction is starting.”
The South Platte Reservoir is expected to fill significantly through this winter and into spring of 2009. Rueter-Hess Reservoir is the largest reservoir built on the Front Range in about 30 years and is estimated to serve 400,000 Douglas County residents for their future water supply in the next 50 years.
The reservoir is about three miles southwest of downtown Parker on Newlin Gulch, which is a tributary drainage of Cherry Creek. Rueter-Hess employs a water management system that captures surface water, especially storm runoff that normally would be lost downstream.
South Metro Water Supply Authority Board Chairman, Charlie Krogh said, “We are an organization of 13 water providers that have come together to promote reusable water supplies.”
Krogh said the South Metro was formed in 2004 and they are “the ones to hunt and kill and bring water back to you.” Krogh said they are sister organizations with The Rural Water Authority.
Don Evans, vice chairman and chief marketing officer for CH2M Hill, an engineering, construction, and operations company, spoke to the audience boasting about the beauty of Colorado and the leadership surrounding Douglas County’s water issues.
Evans’ specialty is water and water resources and commends the state of Colorado on being an incredibly progressive state.
“I feel like I am standing on the shoulders of giants,” Evans said to the group, complimenting the positive progressive leadership in the audience.
“People in Colorado are reaching for the future,” Evans said. “You should pat yourself on the back.”